The Faculty of Dentistry (FKG), Universitas Gadjah Mada, conferred degrees on 14 postgraduate graduates on Wednesday (1/21/2026). However, the ceremony marked more than the completion of academic studies. Amid national disparities in dental healthcare services, graduates are encouraged to bridge research, clinical practice, and community needs.
The graduates came from specialist, master’s, and doctoral programs. Eleven were Pediatric Dentistry specialists, a field gaining increasing strategic importance amid growing attention to children’s oral health and stunting issues.
Dean of FKG UGM, Prof. drg. Suryono, SH., MM., Ph.D., emphasized that academic degrees carry ethical and social consequences. “This ceremony is not an end but the beginning of greater responsibility. Knowledge must return to society,” he stated.
Research Addressing Public Issues
Thesis and dissertation topics reflected this orientation. Research on early childhood caries, unilateral chewing habits, bruxism, and the use of nanoparticles and biological materials indicates a strong applied research focus directly addressing clinical and preventive issues.
Several Pediatric Dentistry specialist studies linked oral health with nutritional status and stunting, particularly in rural areas. This approach positions oral health as an integral component of child health development rather than merely an aesthetic or individual concern.
At the doctoral level, research examining xerostomia among elderly individuals with chronic diseases demonstrates an interdisciplinary expansion connecting oral health, systemic disease, and quality of life.
Alumni Distribution and Academic Landscape
Cumulatively, FKG UGM has graduated 1,545 postgraduate alumni across eight study programs. Clinical specialist programs remain dominant, reflecting national demand for dental specialists.
Distribution of Postgraduate Alumni of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Cumulative):
| Study Program | Total |
| Specialist in Conservative Dentistry | 350 |
| Specialist in Orthodontics | 267 |
| Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry | 164 |
| Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 170 |
| Specialist in Prosthodontics | 149 |
| Specialist in Periodontics | 136 |
| Master of Science in Dentistry | 231 |
| Doctor of Dental Medicine | 78 |
Source: Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Gadjah Mada Academic Unit
In the January 2026 graduation period, the largest group of graduates came from Pediatric Dentistry (11), followed by one graduate each from Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Master’s program, and the Doctoral program.
Responding to National Challenges
Head of the Master’s Program, Prof. Dr. drg. Juni Handajani, M.Kes., Ph.D., PBO, noted that postgraduate education and research directions cannot be separated from national challenges. Unequal distribution of dental specialists, high rates of childhood caries, and the link between oral and systemic diseases require more comprehensive approaches.
“Dentistry is advancing rapidly. However, scientific integrity and patient-centered commitment must remain the foundation,” she said.
Some graduates come from regional government institutions and teaching hospitals. After completing their studies, they are expected to return to their regions to strengthen oral healthcare services while bringing a research culture into both primary and referral services.
Upholding Reputation and Service
Faculty leaders reminded graduates that their identity as UGM alumni endures for life. Professionalism, integrity, and social responsibility are the true measures of success—not academic achievements alone.
This graduation reaffirms FKG UGM’s position not only as an educational institution but also as a knowledge hub expected to address public health challenges. From laboratories and lecture halls, graduates now step into the public sphere to bring knowledge, ethics, and social responsibility.
Reporter: Andri Wicaksono, Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
